Word search

From cast off to purl, pincushion to tack, there are many words associated with knitting. As part of the Oxford English Dictionary’s 90th birthday celebrations, we have a host of fun initiatives taking place, including a number of public word appeals. Our latest appeal focuses on expanding the dictionary’s coverage of the language of hobbies and we would be delighted if you and your readers could help us.

A number of knitting terms are, of course, already included in the dictionary. For example, we have recently added an entry for FROG (to pull apart a piece of knitting in order to rework it, current earliest date 1996) and are monitoring the word STASH (one’s store of wool or fabric, current earliest date 1992).

We would love your readers to tell us the words they use when they describe a particular technique or a slang and colloquial expression that has arisen in the knitting community. How do your readers use these words? Perhaps they have evidence of earlier usage? What new words and phrases are coming into use?

Words can be suggested via our online submissions form or the hashtag #hobbywords.